occupation by scott paul

Uninvited the raucous crowd gathers,
Pouring in to deafening clarions
Diesel filling the air, fireworks the night
And they stay, they occupy,
Growing ever bolder in their crusade.

Evil whispers along Wellington,
Anarchy dances on hallowed ground
A bronzed Terry sheds a tear
For an upended flag turned red with anger.
False sirens of freedom,
While a digital universe cheers them on.

Democracy tested, delayed and finally,
A dark shadow confronted
Cloaked in hijacked words and scripture.
Men with black helmets, zip ties and truncheons
Moving the line as wind blows, snow falls.
Play by play from strolling parka-clad reporters
Until, like some Allied liberation,
The downtown is cleared.
​
Leaving a national wound, soon a scar, and
Seared images of hot tubs and burn barrels,
Jailers and horses, kids and pig roasts.
And in the chambers of the Nation,
Political points are scored and tallied,
While Justice grabs a mop and pail.